As news the Houthis truce did not hold through the night, more troubling news have hit the capital, Sana’a, this Tuesday as unrest seem now to have spread to its northern district of Hasaba.
Residents confirmed on Tuesday that armed clashes took place across the district, in between tribesmen linked to the powerful al-Ahmar family and other individuals. Hasaba which essentially falls under the direct command of Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, prominent tribal leader and high ranking leader of al-Islah has witnessed much violence and unrest over the past few weeks.
Increasingly concerned residents have told reporters under cover of anonymity for fear of reprisals that al-Ahmar’s tribesmen had taken into the habit of brutalizing and victimizing Hasaba residents, completely oblivious to the state authority and its laws.
Earlier this week a shopkeeper was assaulted in an attempted robbery. Trying to defend his business and his possessions, the shopkeeper was shot four times before his attackers decided to flee empty-handed as onlookers gathered to oppose them.
Commenting on the incident residents in Sana’a told the Yemen Post, “We simply avoid going into Hasaba … it’s much too dangerous. Al-Ahmar’s men are free to roam about and do as they please. Who is there to stop them acting as criminals? The state? President Hadi [President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi]? Even the police know better than to venture on al-Ahmar’s territories or challenge his men … they would get shot or worse killed.”
Another man stressed that if it wasn’t for God’s mercy Yemen would have burned down a long time ago, its people swallowed whole by unrest and violence. “Yemen is lawless and stateless … In between us and total disaster there is only God.”